Rowena Mason looks ahead to Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn trading blows on defence and foreign policy later today.

Corbyn will give a speech in London announcing a fresh approach to international affairs, saying a Labour government would not hold hands with Donald Trump.

His remarks are an implicit attack on May for her decision to have a close relationship with the new US president and signs that she could allow the UK to join bombing raids on the Syrian regime if asked to do so by Washington. She allowed Trump to hold her hand on her first trip to see him at the White House in January.

In his speech, Corbyn will say he is “not a pacifist” but he will argue that military intervention has become “almost routine in recent times”. Foreign policy aiming at a more peaceful world has long been one of his personal priorities, especially support for unilateral disarmament and Palestinian rights.

Later, May will give a speech in the north-east arguing that Labour voters in the party’s northern heartlands are “increasingly looking at what Corbyn believes in and are appalled”.

One of her ministers has attacked the Labour leader on the issue of security, saying Corbyn is only “pretending what he’s got to keep us safe” after a lifetime of trying to disarm Britain.

Mike Penning, an armed forces minister, said: “It’s nonsense – we know he wants scrap Trident, abandon our allies and would rather talk to Daesh than strike its barbaric leader. We all want peace, but you can’t take tea with terrorists who order attacks on innocent civilians on our streets.”

May and Corbyn trade blows over defence and foreign policy

Lib Dems pledge to legalise cannabis

Tim Farron’s party will campaign in the general election with a pledge to completely upend the existing system of selling weed, making it the first time a major political party has fought an election on a platform of legalising the drug.

Under the Lib Dem proposals the sale of marijuana would be fully legalised, with the quality strictly regulated to reduce harmful chemicals and sales restricted to over-18s. Purchases would be allowed only through licensed cannabis shops, similar to the system used in several US states.

Lib Dem Julian Huppert, who is standing to retake his old marginal Cambridge seat from Labour, confirmed the plan.

Labour has called for legislation to enshrine the recent convention of consulting parliament on any military action.

Fabian Hamilton, the shadow minister for peace and disarmament, praised Tony Blair for setting the precedent when he secured parliamentary approval for the invasion of Iraq.

Speaking on Sky’s All Out Politics, Hamilton said: “Tony Blair set a very good precedent and it’s very important and I think we should put that in law actually – that parliament must be consulted and must approve of any declaration of war or any warmongering that the United Kingdom wants to conduct for whatever reason.”

He added: “We shouldn’t bomb now and discuss later that is entirely wrong. We should do far far more diplomacy to resolve those conflicts before they become hot wars.”

Hamilton also said Jeremy Corbyn had changed his anti-war views since becoming leader of the party.

Asked about Corbyn’s record as a Stop the War campaigner, Hamilton said: “He was a backbencher then, he’s party leader now. It is not just about what he thinks, it is about what the whole party thinks.”

He underlined Labour’s commitment to spending 2% of GDP on defence. Hamiliton said:

“We have always taken the view that we should not leave this country defenceless, that we should defend ourselves and that 2%, which is the Nato minimum, is about the right amount. We’ve said time and time again that we will stick to that 2%.”

“Like Jeremy I’m not a pacifist. I would defend our country. But we have to find far more creative solutions to the world’s conflicts.”

PA has picked up on Emily Thornberry’s article in the Guardian. It says the shadow foreign secretary warned that a Tory victory would lead to the UK becoming embroiled in the Syrian civil war in a sign of Theresa May’s “devotion” to Donald Trump.